Ex-Super Eagles forward Emmanuel Emenike has urged the Imo State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to launch a probe into an alleged raid on his medical facility in the state, stating that patients and workers were harassed while some staff members were whisked away.
In posts on his verified Instagram account on Wednesday, the former international footballer shared videos of the incident and accused individuals allegedly linked to a state waste-management agency and security operatives of disrupting activities at Emenike Hospital.
Calling on Governor Hope Uzodimma, the Nigeria Police Force and the Imo State Police Command, Emenike stressed the need to protect healthcare facilities from violence and unlawful interference.
In one of his posts, he wrote, “A HOSPITAL MUST BE A PLACE OF CARE AND SAFETY—NOT A SCENE OF VIOLENCE. Emenike Hospital has reported that individuals said to be from an Imo State waste-management agency, after an earlier invasion of the officers of the police force on the order of the DPO Owerri, Urban Division on 25th September, 2026, entered its premises, assaulted staff and patients, and took away the hospital administrator and cashier. The hospital also alleges that armed police officers from Oji Police Station were involved. These claims require an urgent, impartial investigation.”
The footballer called on the state government, police authorities and relevant oversight bodies to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and hold those responsible accountable.
“I call on the Imo State Government, the Nigeria Police Force and the relevant oversight authorities to: a) Establish what happened and identify everyone involved. b) Release the administrator and cashier wrongly detained after brutalising them at the Oji Police Station. c) Ensure anyone injured receives medical care and that witnesses can report safely. d) Preserve and review available CCTV, incident records and other evidence. e) Take appropriate action against the official or agency for unlawful acts.
“No enforcement operation should endanger patients, disrupt emergency care or use violence against hospital staff. Public institutions must act within the law, and allegations of abuse must be investigated transparently.”
Emenike also highlighted his contributions to Nigerian football, including representing the country internationally and winning the Africa Cup of Nations, before deciding to invest in his home state.
He said establishing the hospital in his community was intended to provide residents with access to healthcare and a place of comfort and hope.
“After representing my dear country on the international stage, playing in Europe and celebrating the trophy of winning the Africa Cup of Nations, I chose to bring my experience and success home to Imo State.
“I invested in my community and built a hospital—a place where people could seek care, find comfort and hold on to hope. It was a gesture of faith in my people and a commitment to helping my home state thrive.
“That is why the reports of what happened today, 21st October, 2026, at Emenike Hospital are so painful. A place built to care for people should never become a place where patients are afraid, and staff are left feeling unsafe.
“We call on the hospital community to receive the protection and support it needs. Imo State deserves investment. Its people deserve safety. And every hospital should remain a place of care and hope.”
What You Should Know
Former footballer Emmanuel Emenike is demanding a full investigation after his hospital in Imo State was allegedly invaded by state waste management officials and armed police officers, resulting in staff and patient harassment as well as the detention of key workers.
- Potential Concerns: The incident raises serious worries about the safety of healthcare facilities, the rule of law, and the proper conduct of state agencies and security forces during enforcement operations.
- Positive Impact: A thorough probe could bring accountability, safeguard medical workers and patients, and reinforce the principle that hospitals must remain safe zones protected from unlawful interference.
